Back in September, the Navasota City Council approved the go ahead for next steps to installing cross walks on Washington Avenue at Farquhar. The construction plans were up for approval at the most recent Navasota City Council meeting.
The proposed change would place a cross walk across Washington Avenue to Farquhar, adding a concrete median in the middle. This will mean there are no left turns off Washington Avenue to Farquhar and conversely, there will be no more turning left onto Washington from Farquhar Street.
Grayson Cox from KSA engineers explains though that that change will actually be beneficial for the city.
“That will actually help with some of the traffic issues that you have now at that signal. The left turn lane at La Salle would actually be extended. And you would have less conflicting traffic movements while the queuing backs up at that intersection,” Cox said. “So, not only do we provide a safer route for pedestrians to cross Washington Avenue, but we may actually help the efficiency of traffic through that intersection.”
Some concern was raised by council about the median hampering first responder efforts to get around vehicles, but Police Chief Shawn Myatt says this change will actually help them out a bit.
“Law enforcement wise, we like the idea of this because of the current problems we are dealing with, it would lessen up some of the congestion…our problem is you have people travelling East and West, and all want to occupy that turn lane at the same time,” Myatt said.
The project will not cost the city, as TXDOT will cover construction costs due to the study ordered in September finding the cross walk to be warranted. Council approved the crosswalk plans, with Councilman Geoff Horn abstaining from the vote. There is no set timetable for construction to begin or be completed.
